Marsh's Library

A room with rows of books each side of a walkway
A room with rows of bookshelves
  • Family friendly
  • Hidden gem
  • Rainy days
Marsh's Library, in Dublin City, is a beautifully preserved building and is one of the few in Ireland still used for its original purpose. Unchanged since it was established in 1707, it is the oldest public library in Ireland. It contains 25,000 rare and fascinating books, as well as 300 manuscripts.

Famous readers have included the Irish writers Jonathan Swift, Bram Stoker, and James Joyce. You will see the cages into which readers were locked, the courtyard garden and perhaps even the ghost of Archbishop Marsh.

Children are particularly welcome, and they will enjoy the mini figure hunt through the library. Visit the website for information on current exhibitions and its range of online resources and activities.

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